ACC to sue ex-Japa secy gen Ranga over Tk1.7cr bribery to facilitate participation in 11th election
In return, Ponir Uddin Ahmed, former Kurigram-2 lawmaker, reportedly paid Ranga Tk1.7 crore through bank transfers, cash deposits and other financial transactions
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file a case against Jatiyo Party's former secretary general and presidium member Moshiur Rahman Ranga and former Kurigram-2 lawmaker Ponir Uddin Ahmed over allegations of bribery amounting to Tk1.7 crore to facilitate participation in the 11th parliamentary election.
ACC Deputy Director Aktarul Islam confirmed the development to journalists today (19 January).
According to the ACC investigation, while serving as the then state minister for rural development and cooperatives, Moshiur Rahman Ranga allegedly facilitated Ponir Uddin Ahmed's participation in the 11th national parliamentary election despite having no legitimate business relationship with him.
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In return, Ponir Uddin Ahmed reportedly paid Ranga Tk1.7 crore through bank transfers, cash deposits and other financial transactions.
The anti-graft body said their investigation found that on 30 October 2018, Tk20 lakh was transferred from an account named "Haq Special," owned by Ponir Uddin Ahmed at Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC's Kurigram branch, to an account held by Ranga at the bank's Rangpur branch.
In addition, Tk1.5 crore was deposited in cash into Ranga's account at Sonali Bank's Parliament Bhaban branch in Dhaka on various dates.
The money originated from an account of "Messrs Jalil Biri Factory," owned by Ponir Uddin Ahmed and operated at Sonali Bank's Kurigram branch. Of the total amount, Tk50 lakh was deposited in two instalments on 11 November 2018, Tk50 lakh on 19 November, Tk40 lakh on 22 November and Tk10 lakh on 25 November 2018, according to ACC.
The ACC said the transactions constitute punishable offences under Sections 161, 165 and 109 of the Penal Code, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
Accordingly, the commission has decided to file a case against both Moshiur Rahman Ranga and Ponir Uddin Ahmed. The ACC has also recommended issuing a notice to Ranga under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, seeking submission of his asset statement for verification.
